Beloit College Magazine

In Memoriam: John Eldred '52

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July 22, 2011 at 12:00 am

John Eldred’52, a community leader and life trustee of the college, passed away in Beloit on Feb. 26, 2011. He was 80 years old.

Eldred’s ties to Beloit—both the college and the community—run deep, and span generations. He was the third generation in his family to lead downtown Beloit’s First National Bank & Trust Company and did so for 50 years—37 as the bank’s president.

His matriculation at Beloit was another family legacy, as his father, in-laws, and several relatives also attended the college. While at Beloit, he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He went on to serve in the Korean War.

Throughout his life and career, Eldred was known for getting involved. He held leadership posts in statewide banking associations and co-chaired a fundraising campaign in the ’60s to build Beloit Memorial Hospital. Eldred was involved in innumerable civic organizations, and served as a director of Regal Beloit Corporation. In 1972, he received the college’s Distinguished Service Citation.

He also employed his fundraising skills on his alma mater’s behalf, serving as national chair for Beloit’s late-1970s capital campaign, at the time the biggest the college had ever undertaken. He and his family supported Beloit in many other ways, including through endowed scholarships.

Survivors include his wife, Helen Macklem Eldred’52, a daughter, Susan Boettcher, a son, Steven Eldred, and five grandchildren.